Genesis 18:7
Meanwhile, Abraham ran to the herd, selected a tender and choice calf, and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.
Then Abraham ran
The action of running signifies urgency and eagerness. In the Hebrew context, the word "ran" (רָץ, rats) indicates a swift movement, reflecting Abraham's zeal and hospitality. This eagerness to serve is a hallmark of Abraham's character, demonstrating his respect and reverence for his guests, who are later revealed to be divine messengers. In a broader scriptural context, this act of running can be seen as a metaphor for the believer's readiness to serve God and others with enthusiasm and dedication.

to the herd
The herd represents Abraham's wealth and resources. In ancient Near Eastern culture, livestock was a primary measure of wealth and status. By going to the herd, Abraham is choosing from his best resources to honor his guests. This act of selecting from his own herd underscores the principle of offering God and others the best of what we have, a theme that resonates throughout the Bible, particularly in the sacrificial system where offerings were to be without blemish.

and selected a tender, choice calf
The selection of a "tender, choice calf" (בֶּן־בָּקָר רַךְ וָטוֹב, ben-bakar rakh va-tov) highlights the quality of the offering. The Hebrew words used here emphasize the calf's youth and excellence. This choice reflects Abraham's desire to provide the finest hospitality, which in the cultural and historical context, was a significant gesture of honor and respect. It also prefigures the sacrificial system where the best of the flock was offered to God, symbolizing purity and devotion.

and he gave it to a servant
Abraham's delegation of the task to a servant (נַעַר, na'ar) illustrates the communal aspect of hospitality. In the ancient world, servants played a crucial role in the household, and their involvement in preparing the meal indicates the collective effort in serving the guests. This act of giving also reflects Abraham's leadership and his ability to mobilize his household in acts of service, a model for Christian leadership that involves empowering others to participate in ministry.

who hurried to prepare it
The servant's haste in preparation (מַהֵר, maher) mirrors Abraham's urgency and underscores the importance of the occasion. This quick action signifies the servant's understanding of the significance of the guests and the honor of serving them. In a spiritual sense, this haste can be seen as a reflection of the believer's readiness to respond to God's call and to serve others promptly and efficiently, embodying the biblical principle of serving with a willing heart.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Abraham
The patriarch of the Israelites, known for his faith and obedience to God. In this passage, he demonstrates hospitality to three visitors.

2. The Herd
Represents Abraham's wealth and resources. The selection of a choice calf indicates the importance of the guests and Abraham's willingness to offer his best.

3. The Servant
An unnamed individual who assists Abraham by preparing the calf. This reflects the communal effort in showing hospitality.

4. The Visitors
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, the context reveals they are divine messengers, including the Lord, visiting Abraham.

5. Mamre
The location where Abraham resides, near Hebron, known for its oak trees and as a place where Abraham built an altar to the Lord.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Hospitality
Abraham's actions highlight the biblical value of hospitality. As believers, we are called to welcome and serve others, reflecting God's love and generosity.

Offering Our Best to God and Others
Abraham chose a "tender, choice calf," symbolizing the offering of our best to God and others. This teaches us to give generously and sacrificially.

Promptness in Service
Abraham and his servant acted quickly, showing the importance of promptness in serving others. This reflects a heart eager to serve and honor God.

Community in Service
The involvement of Abraham's servant illustrates the communal aspect of service. We are encouraged to work together in serving others, fostering unity and cooperation.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Abraham's example of hospitality challenge our current approach to welcoming others into our homes and lives?

2. In what ways can we ensure that we are offering our best to God and others in our daily lives?

3. How does the promptness of Abraham and his servant in serving the visitors inspire us to act quickly in our service to others?

4. What are some practical ways we can involve our family or community in acts of service and hospitality?

5. How can the principle of entertaining angels unknowingly (Hebrews 13:2) influence our interactions with strangers and guests?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Hebrews 13:2
This verse encourages believers to show hospitality, as some have entertained angels without knowing it, directly connecting to Abraham's experience.

1 Peter 4:9
Calls Christians to offer hospitality to one another without grumbling, reflecting Abraham's eager and generous spirit.

Matthew 25:35-40
Jesus speaks about serving others as serving Him, which aligns with Abraham's service to the divine visitors.
A Prelude to the IncarnationT. H. LealeGenesis 18:1-8
Abraham, the Friend of GodS. R. Candlish, D. D.Genesis 18:1-8
Abraham's Celestial VisitorsHomilistGenesis 18:1-8
Abraham's HospitalityBp. Babington.Genesis 18:1-8
HospitalityJ. H. Jones.Genesis 18:1-8
HospitalityGenesis 18:1-8
Mysterious VisitorsW. S. Smith, B. D.Genesis 18:1-8
The Advent in the TheophanyW. F. Adeney, M. A.Genesis 18:1-8
The Coming of God, and the Welcome of ManH. T. Edwards, M. A.Genesis 18:1-8
The Divine GuestF. B. Meyer, B. A.Genesis 18:1-8
The Duty of HospitalityT. H. Leale.Genesis 18:1-8
The Trite HospitalityBp. Babington.Genesis 18:1-8
The Theophany At MamreW. Roberts Genesis 18:1-15
The Theophany At MamreR.A. Redford Genesis 18:1-15
People
Abraham, Mamre, Sarah
Places
Canaan, Gomorrah, Sodom, Sodom and Gomorrah
Topics
Attendant, Calf, Choice, Dress, Fat, Fetched, Giveth, Hasted, Hastened, Hasteth, Herd, Hurried, Ox, Prepare, Quickly, Ran, Ready, Running, Selected, Servant, Soft, Taketh, Tender
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Genesis 18:7

     5966   tenderness

Genesis 18:1-8

     4476   meals
     5077   Abraham, character
     5765   attitudes, to people

Genesis 18:1-22

     1454   theophany
     5076   Abraham, life of

Genesis 18:1-33

     1511   Trinity, relationships in

Genesis 18:2-14

     1210   God, human descriptions

Genesis 18:6-8

     4618   calf

Library
January 5. "I Know Him that He Will do the Law" (Gen. xviii. 19).
"I know him that he will do the law" (Gen. xviii. 19). God wants people that He can depend upon. He could say of Abraham, "I know him, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham all that He hath spoken." God can be depended upon; He wants us to be just as decided, as reliable, as stable. This is just what faith means. God is looking for men on whom He can put the weight of all His love, and power, and faithful promises. When God finds such a soul there is nothing He will not do for him. God's engines are
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

'Because of his Importunity'
'And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him! For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Meditations for Household Piety.
1. If thou be called to the government of a family, thou must not hold it sufficient to serve God and live uprightly in thy own person, unless thou cause all under thy charge to do the same with thee. For the performance of this duty God was so well pleased with Abraham, that he would not hide from him his counsel: "For," saith God, "I know him that he will command his sons and his household after him that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

There is a Great Question About Lying, which Often Arises in the Midst Of...
1. There is a great question about Lying, which often arises in the midst of our every day business, and gives us much trouble, that we may not either rashly call that a lie which is not such, or decide that it is sometimes right to tell a lie, that is, a kind of honest, well-meant, charitable lie. This question we will painfully discuss by seeking with them that seek: whether to any good purpose, we need not take upon ourselves to affirm, for the attentive reader will sufficiently gather from the
St. Augustine—On Lying

Whether the Proofs which Christ Made Use of Manifested Sufficiently the Truth of his Resurrection?
Objection 1: It would seem that the proofs which Christ made use of did not sufficiently manifest the truth of His Resurrection. For after the Resurrection Christ showed nothing to His disciples which angels appearing to men did not or could not show; because angels have frequently shown themselves to men under human aspect, have spoken and lived with them, and eaten with them, just as if they were truly men, as is evident from Genesis 18, of the angels whom Abraham entertained. and in the Book of
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Epistle Lii. To Natalis, Bishop .
To Natalis, Bishop [1463] . Gregory to Natalis, Bishop of Salona. As though forgetting the tenour of former letters, I had determined to say nothing to your Blessedness but what should savour of sweetness: but, now that in your epistle you have recurred in the way of argumentation to preceding letters, I am once more compelled to say perhaps some things that I had rather not have said. For in defence of feasts your Fraternity mentions the feast of Abraham, in which by the testimony of Holy Scripture
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Miscellaneous.
THE SABBATH. THIS day is called the Lord's day, the day in which he rose from the dead. The Lord's day: every day, say some, is the Lord's day. Indeed this, for discourse' sake, may he granted; but strictly, no day can so properly be called the Lord's day, as this first day of the week; for that no day of the week, or of the year, has those hadges of the Lord's glory upon it, nor such divine grace put upon it, as his first day of the week. There is nothing, as I know of, that bears this title but
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan

The Leaven.
"Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened."--MATT. xiii. 33. In the mustard-seed we saw the kingdom growing great by its inherent vitality; in the leaven we see it growing great by a contagious influence. There, the increase was attained by development from within; here, by acquisitions from without. It is not that there are two distinct ways in which the Gospel may gain complete
William Arnot—The Parables of Our Lord

Sanctification and Justification.
"Yield your members servants to righteousness unto sanctification." --Rom. vi. 19. Sanctification must remain sanctification. It may not arbitrarily be robbed of its significance, nor be exchanged for something else. It must always signify the making holy of what is unholy or less holy. Care must be taken not to confound sanctification with justification; a common mistake, frequently made by thoughtless Scripture readers. Hence the importance of a thorough understanding of this difference. Being
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Mothers, Daughters, and Wives in Israel
In order accurately to understand the position of woman in Israel, it is only necessary carefully to peruse the New Testament. The picture of social life there presented gives a full view of the place which she held in private and in public life. Here we do not find that separation, so common among Orientals at all times, but a woman mingles freely with others both at home and abroad. So far from suffering under social inferiority, she takes influential and often leading part in all movements, specially
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Debt of Irenæus to Justin Martyr
If we are to proceed with safety in forming a judgment as to the relation between Justin and Irenæus in respect of the matter which they have in common, it will be necessary not merely to consider a number of selected parallels, but also to examine the treatment of a particular theme in the two writers. Let us set side by side, for example, c. 32 of Justin's First Apology with c. 57 of the Demonstration. Justin has been explaining to his Roman readers who the Jewish prophets were, and then
Irenæus—The Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching

Difficulties and Objections
"Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not My way equal? are not your ways unequal?" (Ezek. 18:25). A convenient point has been reached when we may now examine, more definitely, some of the difficulties encountered and the objections which might be advanced against what we have written in previous pages. The author deemed it better to reserve these for a separate consideration rather than deal with them as he went along, requiring as that would have done the
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God

How those are to be Admonished who Praise the Unlawful Things of which they are Conscious, and those who While Condemning Them, in no Wise Guard
(Admonition 32.) Differently to be admonished are they who even praise the unlawful things which they do, and those who censure what is wrong, and yet avoid it not. For they who even praise the unlawful things which they do are to be admonished to consider how for the most part they offend more by the mouth than by deeds. For by deeds they perpetrate wrong things in their own persons only; but with the mouth they bring out wickedness in the persons of as many as there are souls of hearers, to
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Fifteenth Day for Schools and Colleges
WHAT TO PRAY.--For Schools and Colleges "As for Me, this is My covenant with them, saith the Lord: My Spirit that is upon thee, and My words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LoThe future of the Church and the world depends, to an extent we little conceive, on the education of the day. The Church may be seeking to evangelise the heathen, and be giving up her own children to secular
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

Prayer Taught and Encouraged.
(Probably Judæa.) ^C Luke XI. 1-13. ^c 1 And it came to pass, as he was praying in a certain place, that when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, even as John also taught his disciples. [Jesus had already taught his disciples how to pray in the Sermon on the Mount. This disciple probably thought that the prayer already taught was too brief to be sufficient, especially as Jesus often prayed so long. It was customary for the rabbis to give their disciples forms
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Sundry Exhortations.
HEBREWS xiii. Let love of the brethren continue. Forget not to shew love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them that are evil entreated, as being yourselves also in the body. Let marriage be had in honour among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for Himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee,
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

Degrees of Sin
Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous? Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others. He that delivered me unto thee, has the greater sin.' John 19: 11. The Stoic philosophers held that all sins were equal; but this Scripture clearly holds forth that there is a gradual difference in sin; some are greater than others; some are mighty sins,' and crying sins.' Amos 5: 12; Gen 18: 21. Every sin has a voice to speak, but some
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

In the Present Crusade against the Bible and the Faith of Christian Men...
IN the present crusade against the Bible and the Faith of Christian men, the task of destroying confidence in the first chapter of Genesis has been undertaken by Mr. C. W. Goodwin, M.A. He requires us to "regard it as the speculation of some Hebrew Descartes or Newton, promulgated in all good faith as the best and most probable account that could be then given of God's Universe." (p. 252.) Mr. Goodwin remarks with scorn, that "we are asked to believe that a vision of Creation was presented to him
John William Burgon—Inspiration and Interpretation

The Baptismal Covenant Can be Kept Unbroken. Aim and Responsibility of Parents.
We have gone "to the Law and to the Testimony" to find out what the nature and benefits of Baptism are. We have gathered out of the Word all the principal passages bearing on this subject. We have grouped them together, and studied them side by side. We have noticed that their sense is uniform, clear, and strong. Unless we are willing to throw aside all sound principles of interpretation, we can extract from the words of inspiration only one meaning, and that is that the baptized child is, by virtue
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

The Justice of God
The next attribute is God's justice. All God's attributes are identical, and are the same with his essence. Though he has several attributes whereby he is made known to us, yet he has but one essence. A cedar tree may have several branches, yet it is but one cedar. So there are several attributes of God whereby we conceive of him, but only one entire essence. Well, then, concerning God's justice. Deut 32:4. Just and right is he.' Job 37:23. Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

"And There is None that Calleth Upon Thy Name, that Stirreth up Himself to Take Hold on Thee,"
Isaiah lxiv. 7.--"And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold on thee," &c. They go on in the confession of their sins. Many a man hath soon done with that a general notion of sin is the highest advancement in repentance that many attain to. You may see here sin and judgment mixed in thorough other(315) in their complaint. They do not so fix their eyes upon their desolate estate of captivity, as to forget their provocations. Many a man would spend more affection,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Wonderful.
Isaiah ix:6. HIS name shall be called "Wonderful" (Isaiah ix:6). And long before Isaiah had uttered this divine prediction the angel of the Lord had announced his name to be Wonderful. As such He appeared to Manoah. And Manoah said unto the angel of Jehovah, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honor. And the angel of Jehovah said unto Him "why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is Wonderful" (margin, Judges xiii:17-18). This angel of Jehovah, the Person who
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory

Wisdom and Revelation.
"Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness
W. H. Griffith Thomas—The Prayers of St. Paul

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